Aguilera makes Jazz Fest debut

Published: Friday, May 2, 2014 at 2:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 2, 2014 at 2:34 p.m.

NEW ORLEANS — Christina Aguilera has never performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, so she’s making sure to do something special for her debut.

She’s planning special guests, an entire brass horn section to back her up, and a soulful set list for tonight’s show, including “Lady Marmalade,” the LaBelle song she helped remake into a hit years ago.

“It will be exciting to perform ‘Lady Marmalade’ here, as this is where the writers of the song were inspired,” she said in an email statement about her performance.

Festival producer Quint Davis said he hand-picks artists for the festival who he thinks will suit the experience. He called Aguilera “one of the great vocalists of our era.”

“That’s what I look for, greatness,” he added.

Other performers scheduled for today include soul great Chaka Khan, the rock group the Alabama Shakes and Louisiana-based acts including the Charmaine Neville Band, Amanda Shaw and the Hot 8 Brass Band.

One of Aguilera’s “guests” will be her unborn daughter; she’s several months pregnant with her second child, whom she already calls a “roadie.”

“This baby girl has already hit the stage in Malaysia,” she said in the email. “It’s mama’s job. We roll with it. She’ll be listening to the concert from inside me. ... that’s pretty special.”

The festival ends on Sunday.

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.